TROPICAL NORTH QUEENSLAND

So I've been in Tully almost a week and am staying another week... why? Not too sure, there isn't much to do, but there is something about it that I like. I haven't found banana work because it's the slow part of the season, but I have my new Tully friends vouching for me by asking farmers they know or work for or serve in the bar downstairs. I might leave in another week if nothing turns up... we'll have to just wait and see and sit tight!
I had a nice long blog post typed out on my laptop but alas, Tully doesn't have a single wireless connection and this computer I'm currently using has it's USB ports locked away.
The area is beautiful though; the backdrop to town is Mount Tyson that is covered in rainforest. Palms trees are everywhere. AND! AND! For being called 'A Pretty wet place' it hasn't rained since I arrived! Beautiful!
Oh and one more thing, this tiny town of 3,500 has a 50m outdoor pool.... whaaaaat?

For Realz.

Heading North is a Good Thing

Whoever thought that heading north would be a good thing? Only in upside down land, right?
So after 4 nights in Townsville I have finally found somewhere else to go. I spent my days here mostly wasting energy in a negative way on worrying and being hopeless about ever leaving and finding a fruit or veg picking job. But I think I need to appreciate that my search is just a little over a week old and probably relatively short compared to what others face. I've spent a far amount of phone credit, or at least more than I would normally spend in almost 2 months, on calling backpackers that offer work and transport to and from, but such is life. Anyway, that is all very abstract, so here are the real Ds: I've found a bed in Tully, Queensland, which is about 2.5 hours North of Townsville, about 1.5 hours South of Cairns. Part of the reason I have found a bed is because there is currently because there is no work to be had picking bananas (the major crop in Tully and area) because there was been too much rain. Oh, did I mention that Tully is one of the wettest towns in Australia? At least it will be tropical rain. haha.
SO tomorrow afternoon I head to Tully to wait for the work to start again, hopefully it won't be long, but for the time being I am extremely happy to be in a position that has plenty of potential.

Back to my time in Townsville- it wasn't entirely all bad. I actually think Townsville is quite a pretty place, it's too bad it's so dead. I took a hike up Castle Hill (only a few metres short of being a mountain) and got a great view of the city, surrounding suburbs, Magnetic Island 8km from shore, and the outlying hillside and country for miles. I ran along The Strand on the waterfront, which is quite beautiful, and exquisitely maintained. I experienced the cleanest public toilets EVER. I also got to check out the Sunday markets, which didn't quite compare to the Byron ones, but had some unique wares nonetheless. Unfortunately, the Rock Pool, was closed the entire time I've been here for maintainance. But it looked cool (a man made enclosure with pumps from Sweden that pump ocean water in and out of the pool. So it's like you're swimming in the ocean but don't have to worry about stringers ie jellyfish. They're bad here, there is even vinegar jugs set up along the beach to ease the pain should you get stung), and I'll check it out when I come back on my way to Maggie (Magnetic Island) where I plan to get my SCUBA certification after I've served my time in Tully.

The next time I post it will probably be from the home of the giant Golden Gumboot!

On the Road Again

I have left Byron Bay. I repeat: I have left Byron Bay. Right now I’m sitting in the bus terminal in Brisbane waiting for my lovely 23.5 hour bus ride up the coast to begin. It’s already warmer in Queensland than Northern New South Wales (Byron). This morning was the coldest morning yet I think; I was awoken because I was so cold, even under two big blankets.
Anyways, I said in my last post that I was hoping to go to Bowen for seasonal harvest hard labor. Well it turns out that all the hostels in Bowen, as well as Ayr, Home Hill, and Cardwell are full at the moment, so why don’t I call back later? I have not experienced this much frustration and stress in months and it has come as quite a painful shock to my system. So after calling what felt like a million hostels looking for a bed and being rejected each time, I gave up, and decided that my efforts to find a place might work better if I am only a couple hours drive from the potential location rather than over 24 hours away. Thus, today, I head to Townsville, Queensland. It’s the largest town on the East Coast (North of Brisbane that is), with a population above 100,000. Maggie Island is a short 8km ferry ride away and I am hoping that it will be a good starting off point to find some work or at least be much easier to pop down to Ayr or up to Tully at short notice should a bed become available.
I’m definitely excited to be on the road to a warmer place with the possibility work in the form of a physical challenge that pays.
I’m keeping my fingers crossed that I come into work soon and with it have an address for a solid 3 months so you can all send me my belated birthday goodies ;)

So Update: I'm in Townsville now. The bus ride was long but not that bad. It is definitely warmer here but overcast today. Townsville seems pretty dead and I've only been here about 2 hours. Luckily they have free wi-fi at the Macca's near my hostel... speaking of- I'm in a 4-share room with a bunch of young Scandinavian girls who at 2pm in the afternoon were still in bed nursing hangovers. My favorite! I will hopefully be heading back down to Ayr or up further North to Tully on Monday. Oh, and somehow I managed to leave my raincoat on the bus, it was attached to my backpack with a carrabeener and now they're both gone- oh, fiddlesticks!

Turn up the heat, and turn off the rain

Still in Byron Bay. Still cold. Actually I think I am adjusting a little bit, the mornings don’t feel as cold as they did at first, but that’s not a good thing as I am going to head up the coast shortly towards the warmth. I’ve made the decision to go ahead and try my luck at harvest work and see if I can last for 3 months (88 days!) to get the automatic second year of working holiday visa and make some sweet moola. I’ve done some research and found a town that I think might work out well and will hopefully be warm enough for me: Bowen, Queensland, known as the Top of the Whitsundays. The town is right on the beach and my plan is to stay in one of the backpacker hostels there that assists its residents in finding harvest work. If Bowen ends up getting too cold for me or I don’t like/get bored with it I’ll go a little further North to Ayr or Innisfail. I’ve already decided that if I make the 3 months of picking that my reward will be bungy jumping at the AJ Hackett site in Cairns! Oh, and cashing in on my birthday present of getting my SCUBA certification on Maggie Island (Magnetic Island… a hot Aussie I met in Bali told me I had to go to “Maggie Island”). Now my only big decision left to make is how to get up there. Lifts up the coast aren’t really materializing of late so I might just book a bus, train, or plane up there and get down to it, rather than having some long road trip up with strangers being anxious to get started already the whole time.
In other news, Byron has been pretty fun despite the weather. The girls had a House Warming Party last week that was an awesome night. We had BBQ, fresh watermelon and pineapple, yummy salads, and plenty of booze and music. Dance parties happened as well, of course. Since then I’ve been getting the most out of my season pass at the pool and running along the beach plenty. I made a big pot of chili for everyone a few days ago along with homemade cornbread muffins (plain, pineapple, and jalapeno) that turned out prefect! A new reality tv series started last week called ‘Master Chef;’ it’s very similar to Top Chef from American Bravo. It was on every night last week and we all watched every episode. One of the hosts says “yeah?” at the end of almost all his sentences and we turned it into a drinking game. Last night we had a little birthday party for Katie (one of my fellow squatters… did I mention that last time? Laurie’s friends from home Justin and Katie are also squatting in the living room of this fine house. We’re one big, happy family). There was cake and goon and the most intensely focused and high-paced games of ‘Kings’ I’ve ever played. We even got through the entire deck- that never happens! After Kings we all walked into town, but Laurie and I ended up walking back home not long later: we were game over. When we were over halfway home it started pouring rain, like monsoon style. A friend of ours and former housemate of Laurie and Diva’s, Chris, rode by on his bike as we trudged drunkenly through the rain, we tried to take refuge under a palm tree but it wasn’t any help. Chris rode off after a while and then returned later when we were nearly home and the rain had stopped, with an umbrella. Greatly appreciated even though we didn’t need it, but it’s the thought that counts. We were soaked to the bone when we got back, it was quite the ridiculous night. Luckily I didn’t enter the Annual Byron Bay Ocean Swim that took place the next morning at 10am. I’d thought about it but just couldn’t justify the $50 entry fee because of the horrible shape I’m in swimming-wise right now.
Yesterday the big Sunday market was on in Byron and I briefly hit that up before walking out to Satori to see Diva in action and use their free wifi. The place was busier than I’ve ever seen it before but Diva handled it like a veteran manager. It poured some more rain in the afternoon but I managed to not get caught in it again. Phew. I had mild hungover-y kind of feeling all day so when I got back to the house I ran down to the beach and jumped in the ocean hoping for a shock from the cold water… but it was warmer than the air and actually felt kind of nice. Not what I was looking for but the run down and back felt very nice.
Tomorrow we’re celebrating Laurie’s 25th Birthday a few days early. The theme is ‘nautical.’ Should be interesting. I’m making devil’s food cupcakes with pink frosting!

They had Borat on network TV last night. I still sort of can’t believe it.

Where Am I Now?

Darwin Harbour- over 1000 sq km in area

So last Tuesday night, or Wednesday morning I guess, I returned to Darwin from Bali. I checked into a hostel, slept, woke up, checked out, checked into a different, better hostel. And then wandered aimlessly. Actually, I really went to Global Gossip (internet café) to try to figure out what to do next. I’d looked at a bunch of bulletin boards in the various backpackers looking for rides to the East Coast but the few that were posted weren’t leaving for another week or so. I looked for fruit picking jobs in the area too, but there weren’t any. I slept a lot and must admit that I was a suffering from mild post-Bali depression. I knew the French guys I’d met in Bali would be driving their campervan to the East Coast when they got back to Darwin, but on the day I left they’d been talking about extending their visas there, so who knows when they were coming back. I decided to set a deadline- if I hadn’t heard from the French guys by Friday at 6pm I would book a flight to Brisbane and go to Byron Bay. I had to go back to Byron some time as I’d left some things there. I also figured there would be more chance of catching a ride up the coast from there. So Friday 6pm rolls around and at a little after 7pm I booked a flight to Brisbane for less than 12 hours later (6am) and a shuttle to Byron Bay. In the hurry of booking things I sort of forgot to tell the girls that I was coming, haha oops! It worked out in the end though. They, Diva, Kate and Laurie, have just signed a 6 month lease on a gorgeous summer holiday letting house. It’s fully furnished, clean, and in a great location (close to the CBD and 5 mins walk from the beach!). It feels like someone’s parent’s cottage it’s so nice. Why are a bunch of crazy, yet responsible, 20-somethings living here? Hahaha Not much has changed in Byron: Woolworth’s got a makeover that included a new sign: Crazy Clark’s in closing; and a new backpackers hostel has opened. Fancy shit. Also, Diva has been promoted to manager of the café she’s been working at since Christmas time, moving up in the world.
Anyway, I’m planning on hanging around Byron for about 2 weeks, at least until May 10th for Laurie’s big 25th Birthday, and then heading up the coast. I’ve thought about staying in Byron but it is already too cold in the night/morning/evening for me, though work is available which is tempting. Further north I might try my hand at the fruit picking thing, the pay seems to be decent, I like hard, monotonous work (hours of staring at that black line were quite enjoyable most days), and if I can do it for 3 months I automatically qualify for a 2nd year of working holiday visa here.
The prospect of making money is my main goal right now. After Bali, I caught the South East Asia bug and can not wait to see more. If I can save a few pretty pennies I’ll go back to Bali and the rest of Indonesia, and also hit up Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Singapore, Vanuatu, etc etc etc!
Opportunity is on the horizon folks!

Back from Bali

Kuta Beach Sunset

Now, I know this is going to sound cliché, but I feel like Bali changed my life. It would take me hours and hours to write about my Bali experience but I’ll try to sum it up in as few words as possible. First, let me tell you that I was in Bali for a proper relaxing holiday and thus stayed in Kuta/Legian Beach the whole time. I did go see one temple- Tanah Lot, the water temple- by motorbike with a couple French guys I’d met (unfortunately it rained during sunset, which was the reason we’d gone out there, it was still worth it), but other than that I stayed put. My days consisted off waking up late, going to eat lunch, laying on the beach reading, collecting shells, walking through the narrow gangs (alleys) checking out the wares for sale in the stalls, trying not to get hit by cars and motorbikes, saying ‘No thank you’ 5,000 times everyday, talking to the locals, hanging out in front of the TV at the place I stayed, eating dinner (almost always accompanied by a Bintang), showering, hanging out some more, trying to learn a little basic Indonesian, drinking, partying, dancing until the wee hours. It was the life. And now being back in Darwin I feel a little depressed coming down, tumbling down, from the high that was Bali. I feel really lucky to have found the cottages where I stayed, it was like being part of a big family. Everyone was so welcoming- both the staff and fellow guests. I loved not having A/C and looked forward to having my cold shower. I met people from all over the world staying at my same place and we all got on very well and now I miss them! I ate excellent and damn cheap Indonesian food. I met people from around the world all in Bali to have a great time. I saw Ban Chongs and could pick them out by the end. I went to the night clubs and survived! I had the best pork I’ve ever had when we had a pig roast. I fell in love with Cassava chips. I had Arak Attacks many nights (Arak = palm liquor, it will fuck you up)! I met a fellow Longhorn in one of the clubs one night and was reminded of how proud I was to be a Longhorn! I also met a Sooner that same night, wild! I want to go back already. I want to go back every year.

Tanah Lot

Bali Bagus!

I've been in Bali, Kuta to be exact, for a week now. ANd WOW- it is bagus! (That means good in Indonesian and is one of the only words I can remember, ahaa). When I arrived last Wednesday night I was picked up at the airport by my hotel that I'd booked online and taken there and basically went straight to bed, after I figuring out what time I was in, haha. THe next day my task was to find a new place to stay, somewhere cheaper and nicer, and get to know the area a little and just take in my surroundings. And well shit! this place just overwhelms your senses at first! The sights, smells, and sounds and constantly changing, and then the textures and tastes are diverse as wwell! Anyway, after a long day of walking around I'd found a cheaper and cleaner guesthouse to stay at and hoped they would have a room the next day. At the family owned and run places, often called bungalows or cottages, it is first come, first serve, and really is like you're staying at the families home, cuz well you are. haha. So I definately ended up picking the right place. Most of the people staying here have been here for a few weeks and always come back. I've gotten to know the Kuta Beach area well and basically just go to the beach everyday, eat out every meal (cheap!) and still somehow manage to spend less than $20 CAD/day (that includes the accommodation- it's 70,000 Rp/night, look up that exchange rate at www.xe.com)
I've gone out a few times- it's wild! Drank too much last night, arak (coconut liquor) got me bad. and was hungover most of the day, didn't get out of bed til nearly 3pm!
Sorry this is so short and undetailed. It would take hours to tell about everything. You'll just have to come experience for yourselves!